All Your Data Are Belong To You: TSA, DHS, devices, and your rights

Sarah Houghton tweeted the other day a mention of being regularly hassled by the TSA. I asked her for details and said it would make a great blog post. She has since obliged. If you think “but I’m just a librarian, why would they be interested in me?” you must read this post. In fact, just read it anyway.

And here begins our story. I have flown a lot in my lifetime. Between personal and professional trips, I average one or two dozen trips a year. About three years ago, I was flying from the Rochester NY airport to Grand Rapids, Michigan – going from my step-son’s graduation to my grandmother’s funeral. I was stopped by the TSA screeners for having “brass knuckles” in my purse — in reality a 1 1/2″ cat face cheap metal keychain that did not resemble brass knuckles in the slightest. I was pulled aside, my wallet was taken, and my bags thoroughly searched within my view. I got mouthy…probably not my best choice, but I was pissed. This was some over-zealous, bored Rochester TSA flunkie messing with me for no legitimate reason. I was live-Tweeting it as it was happening. I was asked to stop. I said no. I was asked to hand over my phone. I said no. I was asked to hand over my laptop. I said no. Eventually they let me go, confiscating the keychain that had made it through security in a couple dozen other airports, and with a warning that I was now on “THE LIST.” I let fly a few F-bombs and boarded my plane for my grandmother’s funeral shaking from adrenaline and anger. I wrote complaint letters to the Rochester Airport administration and to the TSA and got no reply from either (surprise, surprise).